Search - Al Stewart :: Famous Last Words (Reis)

Haunting and introspective

David L. White | Reno | 12/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan, you must have this album. If you are not yet, this one will win you. This album came after Last Days of the Century. This was before the internet, so I just happened accross it in the music store. From the first playing it has stayed in my car's CD case.



There are whimsical tunes like "Feels Like" and "Genie on a Tabletop" to make your fingers tap. There are eclectic songs like "Necromancer", "Tresspasser",and "Angel of Mercy" Which have complex melodies and take a few listenings to grow on you. There is the usual short, funny song "Hipposong" with tubas yet.



"Don't Forget Me" and "Night Rolls In" are smooth, well produced songs with a jazz-pop feel.



The two best songs, as usual, are historical. The haunting "Charolette Courday" tells of the ghost of Marat's lover who killed him. The melody is smooth and his voice carries you to an old French chalet in the darkness before dawn.



"Trains" is by far the best song on the album and among the best Al has ever written. It stands with "Roads to Moscow"' "Nostrodamus", "A Man for All Seasons", and "Helen and Cassandra" amongst his saga style songs as it comes in at eight plus minutes. It starts innocently enough as a look back to childhood, then takes a dramatic turn, pulling the listener through the two world wars and beyond.



You will not regret buying this album."